Transmuting Girls Into Women: Examining the Adultification of Black Female Sexual Assault Survivors Through Twitter Feedback

Abstract

The present study explored the adultification of young Black girls, specifically through the mythos of the fast-tailed girl, by examining the commentary on Twitter associated with the #SurvivingRKelly hashtag. Applying critical discourse analysis, three discursive themes emerged: (1) calling out the culture of accepting, (2) resistance through provocation and inquiry, and (3) challenging transgenerational dating. This study's results indicate the need for further research on the social construction of Black girlhood and how societal and cultural beliefs may serve as discursive mechanisms by which the adultification of young Black girls is perpetuated.

Keywords: Black girls; Surviving R. Kelly; Twitter; adultification; critical discourse analysis (CDA); fast-tailed girls; sexual abuse.